Children forced into prostitution

Children forced into prostitution

MEDAN, North Sumatra: A notorious pimp on Tanjungbalai Karimun
island, Riau, has recruited hundreds of girls aged under 17 into
her prostitution den, according to local reports.

Three girls recently rescued from the brothel by their
families said Monday that most of the sex workers they knew were
victims of labor brokers who promised them well-paid jobs in
certain companies.

One of those rescued from the brothel was a 16-year old girl
from Medan, whose parents had to pay the pimp Rp 800,000 ($80) to
get her back last week after she worked for the pimp for two
weeks.

She said she was forced to work as a prostitute in a motel
owned by the pimp she identified only as Merry.

"I was placed in a glass 'display room' together with about
200 other women," she said, adding that the pimp ran several such
rooms.

Each client paid Rp 150,000 for sex, Rp 80,000 of which went
to the pimp, she said.

The rescued girl added that she was first accommodated in a
brothel owned by a pimp in Medan she identified as Mrs. Dewi, who
then shipped her to Tanjungbalai Karimun. (21/prb)